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The ocean environment isn't easy on equipment, plus storms are a major issue. Then there's cabling...

by Recurecur 9y ago

Robotbeat 9y ago
That all looks trivial compared to the challenges of fusion power, though.
- Recurecur 9y ago
  Truthfully in the medium term next generation modular fission reactors seem like the way to go, as a complement to intermittent and variable solar/wind power. If the LPPFusion approach eventually works out, it will be a giant win compared to the Tokomak or implosion fusion reactors.
- spdionis 9y ago
  Are you sure? This is a recurring theme in your arguments but I don't necessarily agree with you. What are the reasons for you to think that?
  - Robotbeat 9y ago
    Read the article that this conversation is attached to for a list of very good reasons. Getting fusion to work is most certainly possible, but incredibly hard. Engineering for salt water is way easier than engineering for neutron activation, achieving high neutron economy to breed the tritium, managing tritium, managing a high temperature reactor next to a very cold magnetic containment system, a high vacuum system, oh and the very basic problem that has yet to be solved (achieving even just breakeven fusion in a non-H-bomb) etc, etc. It really does look trivial to just properly seal stuff against saltwater. We'll probably need fusion to help reach the stars, so I think it's definitely something that should be pursued, but making it an economic power source for Earth seems very unlikely to me.
  - prewett 9y ago
    We already have things that float in the ocean for long periods of time (ships, oil rigs) and which withstand ocean storms, so it seems like a solved problem compared to fusion.
    - olleromam91 9y ago
      And people could...idk...work on solar rigs to maintain these systems!
- KnightOfWords 9y ago
  By the time you mount those panels on a floating structure the lifetime energy yield may well drop to zero or (most probably) negative. Building a ship has a huge energy/emissions cost as the raw materials have to be mined, refined, transported, formed and assembled. I'd recommend this site for a good overview on where our energy really goes and what might be achievable with renewables: https://www.withouthotair.com/ https://www.withouthotair.com/

The ocean environment isn't easy on equipment, plus storms are a major issue. Then there's cabling...

Robotbeat 9y ago

That all looks trivial compared to the challenges of fusion power, though.

Recurecur 9y ago
Truthfully in the medium term next generation modular fission reactors seem like the way to go, as a complement to intermittent and variable solar/wind power. If the LPPFusion approach eventually works out, it will be a giant win compared to the Tokomak or implosion fusion reactors.
spdionis 9y ago
Are you sure? This is a recurring theme in your arguments but I don't necessarily agree with you. What are the reasons for you to think that?
- Robotbeat 9y ago
  Read the article that this conversation is attached to for a list of very good reasons. Getting fusion to work is most certainly possible, but incredibly hard. Engineering for salt water is way easier than engineering for neutron activation, achieving high neutron economy to breed the tritium, managing tritium, managing a high temperature reactor next to a very cold magnetic containment system, a high vacuum system, oh and the very basic problem that has yet to be solved (achieving even just breakeven fusion in a non-H-bomb) etc, etc. It really does look trivial to just properly seal stuff against saltwater. We'll probably need fusion to help reach the stars, so I think it's definitely something that should be pursued, but making it an economic power source for Earth seems very unlikely to me.
- prewett 9y ago
  We already have things that float in the ocean for long periods of time (ships, oil rigs) and which withstand ocean storms, so it seems like a solved problem compared to fusion.
  - olleromam91 9y ago
    And people could...idk...work on solar rigs to maintain these systems!
KnightOfWords 9y ago
By the time you mount those panels on a floating structure the lifetime energy yield may well drop to zero or (most probably) negative. Building a ship has a huge energy/emissions cost as the raw materials have to be mined, refined, transported, formed and assembled. I'd recommend this site for a good overview on where our energy really goes and what might be achievable with renewables: https://www.withouthotair.com/ https://www.withouthotair.com/